Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Hormone levels linked to hair loss in dogs with normal thyroid
By Frank, Linda A et al.·Published in Veterinary dermatology·2003·Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Retrospective evaluation of sex hormones and steroid hormone intermediates in dogs with alopecia.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of dogs with hair loss (alopecia) were tested for hormone imbalances to see if they were causing the problem. Out of 276 dogs studied, many had elevated levels of hormones like progesterone, especially in breeds like Pomeranians and Siberian Huskies. However, some breeds, such as Chow Chows and Samoyeds, showed normal hormone levels, suggesting that hair loss in these dogs might not be linked to hormone issues. This means that treatment for hair loss may need to be tailored to specific breeds rather than relying solely on hormone testing.
People also search for: dog hair loss causes · Pomeranian hormone imbalance · treatment for dog alopecia · why is my dog losing hair · Siberian Husky skin problems
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to determine if there are specific steroid hormone aberrations associated with suspect endocrine alopecias in dogs in whom hypothyroidism and hyperadrenocorticism have been excluded. Steroid hormone panels submitted to the UTCVM endocrinology laboratory over a 7.5-year period (783 samples) from dogs with alopecia were reviewed. During this period, 276 dogs met the criteria for inclusion and were comprised of 54 different breeds. Approximately 73% of dogs had at least one baseline or post-ACTH stimulation steroid hormone intermediate greater than the normal range. The most frequent hormone elevation noted was for progesterone (57.6% of samples). When compared with normal dogs, oestradiol was significantly greater in Keeshond dogs and progesterone was significantly greater in Pomeranian and Siberian Husky dogs. Not all individual dogs had hormone abnormalities. Chow Chow, Samoyed and Malamute dogs had the greatest percentage of normal steroid hormone intermediates of the dogs in this study. Baseline cortisol concentrations were significantly correlated with progesterone, 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP) and androstenedione. Results of this study suggest that the pathomechanism of the alopecia, at least for some breeds, may not relate to steroid hormone intermediates and emphasizes the need for breed specific normals.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12662266/